Statement from Premier Kathleen Wynne

Premier Kathleen Wynne released the following statement this morning:

Saturday, May 19, 2018

"New media reports in today’s Globe and Mail raise deeply troubling questions about the widespread use of stolen 407 ETR data by Doug Ford’s Conservative Party, and hint at a deliberate pattern of voter fraud at Conservative nomination meetings. Doug Ford asserted yesterday that these concerns were limited in scope to one riding only. We now know that to be untrue. At least seven nominated Conservative candidates are implicated according to these media reports and a cloud of suspicion hangs over many others. Party officials appear to be involved. In February Mr. Ford said he knew of 30 to 40 ridings where he was aware of 'scandalous' practices. Yet he never acted on that charge. Who knew what and when within Doug Ford’s operation and the Conservative Party remains unclear.

Even more worrying is the possibility that this same stolen data is being used right now by the Conservative Party to recruit and outreach to voters. We are talking about the identities and personal information of tens of thousands of Ontarians. The deliberate or indeliberate use of this illegally obtained data would be an unforgivable breach of ethics.

Those who aspire to lead our province have an obligation to put the integrity of our electoral process ahead of partisan gain, political ambition or, indeed, any other consideration. Mr. Ford has an opportunity to act. We ask him to do the right thing and immediately take the following steps:

Call in the OPP to conduct a province-wide investigation of these nomination practices and to purge all Conservative data bases of illegally obtained data, including those of the party, the central campaign, local campaigns and riding associations. And confirm that no other illegally obtained data has been utilized in any way.

Fire all candidates with links to the data breach and Snover Dhillon’s nomination services. These candidates cannot be permitted to compete for public office having gained their nominations unlawfully.

Invite a similar investigation by Elections Ontario to reassure the public that the integrity of the general election will in, no way, be comprised by the targeting of voters by Conservatives with fraudulently obtained data.

Disclose all party ties to Snover Dhillon and the full results of all internal party investigations into nomination practices – including those conducted by MPP Vic Fedeli

Mr. Ford has rejected an external probe of this matter in the past. He must reverse himself in light of this new information. Given the gravity of these allegations, complete honesty and full transparency is the only option available to Mr. Ford."